Buddakan

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

Where Drama Meets the Dim Sum Cart

Buddakan occupies a world unto itself on Ninth Avenue in Chelsea. The setting — ornate chandeliers, shimmering gilded details, and dramatic art — draws from an unlikely pairing: Asian tranquility and the opulence of 16th-century Paris. The result is a room that feels genuinely theatrical without trying too hard to be anything other than itself.

The kitchen's focus is shareable pan-Asian cooking, pulling from dim sum traditions, Cantonese technique, Sichuan heat, and beyond. The philosophy is communal: nearly everything arrives at the center of the table, meant to be passed and debated.

What to Order

Dim sum anchors the early part of any meal here. Edamame dumplings arrive in a shallot-sauternes broth, while the "No. 6" Sichuan Pork Wontons come dressed in chili oil with pickled mustard greens and cilantro — a dish that earns its place on every tasting menu. Lobster egg rolls with Thai basil and sweet chili and oxtail dumplings with green apple and jalapeño show the kitchen's willingness to push beyond convention.

For larger plates, the Peking duck for two — served with cucumber, scallion, and hoisin — is a signature. The glazed Alaskan black cod with chili eggplant and black bean relish appears across multiple tasting formats for good reason. Cumin lamb chops with scallion oil and roasted sweet potatoes, and a sizzling short rib over mushroom chow fun, round out a menu that moves confidently across the Asian culinary map.

The cocktail list keeps pace: the Tranquility blends Woodinville rye with oolong tea, kalamansi, and lemongrass; the Ember pairs Maker's Mark bourbon with miso and pear bitters. The wine program earned Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence in 2018, a recognition that reflects genuine depth of selection.

Group Dining and the Dim Sum Hour

Buddakan is well set up for larger gatherings. Tasting menus are available for parties of four or more, with everything served family-style to the center of the table. For those arriving earlier in the evening, a dedicated Dim Sum Hour runs Monday through Friday from 5 to 7 pm at the bar and lounge — an approachable way into the menu at a lower price point before the main dining room fills.

The space accommodates private parties and large groups without losing the atmosphere that makes it worth visiting in the first place.